Aggressive combination chemotherapy in multiple myeloma. A multicentre trial. Finnish Leukaemia Group.

A one-armed multicentre trial was conducted in Finland during the period from Jan. 1979 to Feb. 1980 to document the possible beneficial effect of aggressive combination chemotherapy MOCCA on the remission induction and survival in multiple myeloma. The regimen MOCCA consisted of vincristine, methylprednisolone and 3 alkylating agents. Of the 50 patients eligible for the for study, 39 (78%) achieved at least a 50% response. 27 (54%) achieved an excellent response. The median survival time for all patients was 49 months from the initiation of the treatment, but 23 of the 33 patients whose myeloma protein had shown a greater than or equal to or greater than or equal to 75% reduction were still alive at 4 yr. Advanced clinical stage and irreversible renal damage had a negative prognostic value. After 12 months on regimen MOCCA the patients with a greater than or equal to or greater than or equal to 75% reduction in myeloma protein were allocated at random to receive MOCCA courses bimonthly or no further chemotherapy. The maintenance chemotherapy did not prolong remission or survival.